Touring the Las Vegas Strip

There are lots of reasons to go to the Las Vegas Strip--gambling, taking in the shows, big name restaurants.  We were interested in getting lots of pictures and eating at a burger and steak restaurant--Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill at Caesar's Palace. We have been watching the Food Network for years and Bobby Flay is a really top chef--he wins almost every contest he enters, as well as hosting his own shows.

We were seated right next to the open kitchen where we watched the chefs cook meat on a grill and the griddle then plate the meals.  We enjoyed watching them.

John ordered the pork tenderloin sandwich

and I asked for the chili con-queso burger--both served with southwestern fries.

We strolled through the Forum Shops, looking at expensive clothing, outrageous shoes and numerous jewelry stores.  We didn't buy a thing.

This little boy like these lighted benches.

A look down the main street toward El Mirage Casino.

The Venitian makes you think you really are in Venice with water and gondolas

I think this is a statue of Poseidon.   Any one have other ideas?



I loved watching these fountains.  The water moved to the accompanying music.

This was another fountain down the street.

These are next to the pirate ship at the Excalibur.

These unusual chairs were in the Forum Shops.

We enjoyed our lunch and the stoll down the Strip, but I doubt we will return. I have all the pictures I need and we can find Food Network chef restaurants elsewhere. We were first in Las Vegas about 49 years ago. My parents loved going there and took us along. It really isn't our cup of tea today.

An Historic Plaza

We have driven through--or maybe it is past--Las Vegas, New Mexico, numerous times as we traveled to and from Arizona or Texas. This was our first time to stop. We wanted to avoid crowded RV parks in the Albuquerque area because this week is the annual Balloon Festival. We enjoyed looking around the historic plaza. It surrounds a great green area with large shade trees.

There are several statues of recent vintage, possibly a part of the plaza revival. The first honors farm workers.

This is Our Lady of Sorrows, patroness of the city's Roman Catholic Church.

Titled "Cry of the Ages," this one depicts a Native American. A man resting in the plaza told us there was originally a long spear in his hand but it has since been stolen.

Las Vegas was established in 1835 under a Mexican land grant. It flourished as a stop on the Santa Fe Trail. In 1846 during the Mexican-American War, General Stephen Kearney delivered an address in the plaza, proclaiming New Mexico was now a part of the United States. This monument includes part of his address. It says, in part, that in America all people, rich and poor, are treated equally under the law and all people, protestant or catholic, are welcome to practice their religion in this country. Hopefully, you can click on the photo to enlarge it and read some of what he said.

Some of the old buildings on the plaza are beautifully restored, at least on the outside. We only went in one store, which had really quality gifts and clothing for sale.

Historic Route 66 passed through this area, as we could see by this sign.

This was once the main fire department. We enjoyed the old fire truck outside, as well.

The town was an interesting diversion as we travel south.